793.94/6858: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 6—2 p.m.]
64. Reference Legation’s 57, February 2, noon, concerning Sino-Japanese conflict on border of Chahar. A settlement is stated to have been reached on February 2nd by Chinese and Japanese military officers. According to a press statement issued by the Peiping branch Military Council:
- 1.
- The recent incident in East Chahar occurred as a result of some misunderstanding.
- 2.
- With a view to effecting a peaceful settlement of the incident, the Japanese troops will withdraw to their original garrison posts while the Chinese troops will not go east of the Great Wall, and
- 3.
- Rifles and ammunition which the Chinese had taken from militia in Jehol will be returned.
According to information given by First Secretary of the Japanese Legation at Peiping to a member of this Legation, however, the Japanese [Page 43] representative at the conference reviewed the history of the trouble, alleged Chinese responsibility and made three points:
- 1.
- The Chinese Army should not invade “Manchukuo” territory or cause the Kwantung Army any anxiety from outside that territory and should refrain from sending plain-clothes men to spy on Japanese military activities;
- 2.
- In the event that China goes contrary to the above, the Kwantung Army will take necessary measures, the result of which will be Chinese responsibility, and the Kwantung Army will also consider any straightening of the Chinese lines as a retaliatory act; and,
- 3.
- The arms of the “Manchukuo” militia shall be returned. The Chinese delegate thereupon approved the historical review, expressed regret, pledged that no such action would occur again, and agreed to the three points. The Japanese secretary also stated that agreement about the boundary would be left for future settlement (a question which in reality is already settled as the Chinese troops are now west of the Great Wall) and that possibly some further withdrawal or replacement of Chinese troops in Southeastern Chahar was indicated by the first Japanese point.
The seeming leniency of the Japanese military at this conference indicates their desire to improve the Sino-Japanese cooperation which was advocated by General Chiang Kai-shek in a press statement (see Legation’s 60, February 3, 3 p.m.). However, the Legation will continue to endeavor to obtain information with regard to any possible secret understandings reached.
It may be added that the First Secretary of the Japanese Legation also stated that the region north of area recently in dispute is now administered by “Manchukuo” although Chahar-Jehol border yet remains to be defined.